Unitary telephone cable closure

Abstract

An aerial telephone cable closure for enclosing telephone cables suspended from a support strand. The closure consists of a tubular housing having a pair of interfitting mating edges, these edges are fastened after passing the telephone cable through the access slot between the edges. The closure further includes flexible metal hanger brackets which are attached to the outside upper circumferential surface of the closure and which each have a vertical portion projecting upward for the fastening to the aerial support strand by support strand clamps. When it is desired to terminate some of the conductors in the cable for use with telephone service wires, the closure would include a termination port formed in the side of the tubular housing. The termination port includes a rectangular frame formed about a rectangular opening in one side of the tubular housing. A replaceable terminal block panel assembly is installed within the rectangular frame. The replaceable terminal block assembly is comprised of a terminal block panel on which a terminal block is mounted. A rectangular lid is integrally hinged on the top side of the frame for providing access to the terminal block. In this manner, the closure can be fastened about the cable and access can be had to terminate service wires to the terminal block.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A unitary telephone cable closure for enclosing a communications cable suspended from a support strand, comprising: a hollow, flexible wall, tubular housing having a pair of longitudinal mating edges separated by a longitudinal access slot, said edges being fastenable together in mating engagement after passing a cable through said slot;   a metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a second metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a first longitudinal edge of said pair including a first hook portion projecting circumferentially from said wall and having an upwardly projecting barb, an upper guard portion projecting from said wall and extending above said barb of said hook portion, and a first lower guard portion projecting from said wall and extending below said hook portion;   a second longitudinal edge of said pair including a second hook portion projecting circumferentially from said wall and having a downwardly projecting barb and a second lower guard portion projecting from said wall and extending below said second hook portion;   said second hook portion of said second edge disposed for mating engagement between said upper guard portion and said first hook portion of said first edge, and said second lower guard portion of said second edge disposed for mating engagement between said first hook portion and said first lower guard portion of said first edge;   whereby said first and second hook portions are protected by both said first and said second lower guard portions;   whereby said closure can be fastened about a cable.   
     
     
       2. A unitary telephone cable closure for enclosing a communications cable suspended from a support strand, comprising: a hollow, flexible wall, tubular housing having a pair of longitudinal mating edges separated by a longitudinal access slot, said edges being fastenable together in mating engagement after passing a cable through said slot;   a metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a second metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a first longitudinal edge of said pair including a first saw tooth portion projecting circumferentially from said wall and having an upwardly projecting serrated surface, an upper guard portion projecting from said wall and extending above said serrated surface of said saw tooth portion, and a first lower guard portion projecting from said wall and extending below said saw tooth portion;   a second longitudinal edge of said pair including a second saw tooth portion projecting circumferentially from said wall and having a downwardly projecting serrated surface and a second lower guard portion projecting from said wall and extending below said second saw tooth portion;   said second saw tooth portion of said second edge disposed for mating engagement between said upper guard portion and said first saw tooth portion of said first edge, and said second lower guard portion of said second edge disposed for mating engagement between said first saw tooth portion and said first lower guard portion of said first edge;   whereby said first and second saw tooth portions are protected by both said first and said second lower guard portions;   whereby said closure can be fastened about a cable.   
     
     
       3. A unitary telephone cable closure for enclosing a communications cable suspended from a support strand, comprising: a hollow, flexible wall, tubular housing having a pair of longitudinal mating edges separated by a longitudinal access slot, said edges being fastenable together in mating engagement after passing a cable through said slot;   a metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a second metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a first longitudinal edge of said pair including a first groove portion projecting circumferentially from said wall;   a second longitudinal edge of said pair including a tongue portion projecting circumferentially from said wall;   said tongue portion of said second edge disposed for mating engagement with said groove portion of said first edge;   whereby said closure can be fastened about a cable.   
     
     
       4. A unitary telephone cable closure for enclosing a communications cable suspended from a support strand, comprising: a hollow, flexible wall, tubular housing having a pair of longitudinal mating edges separated by a longitudinal access slot, said edges being fastenable together in mating engagement after passing a cable through said slot;   a metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a second metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a first longitudinal edge of said pair including a groove portion having a longitudinally cylindrical hollow shape;   a second longitudinal edge of said pair including a longitudinal circularly cylindrical portion projecting circumferentially from said wall;   said circularly cylindrical portion of said second edge disposed for mating engagement with said groove portion of said first edge;   whereby said closure can be fastened about a cable.   
     
     
       5. A unitary telephone cable closure for enclosing a communications cable suspended from a support strand, comprising: a hollow, flexible wall, tubular housing having a pair of longitudinal mating edges separated by a longitudinal access slot, said edges being fastenable together in mating engagement after passing a cable through said slot;   a metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a second metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a first longitudinal edge of said pair including a groove portion having a longitudinally cylindrical hollow shape;   a second longitudinal edge of said pair including a longitudinal, spade-shaped portion projecting circumferentially from said wall;   said spade-shaped portion of said second edge disposed for mating engagement with said groove portion of said first edge;   whereby said closure can be fastened about a cable.   
     
     
       6. A unitary telephone cable closure for enclosing a communications cable suspended from a support strand, comprising: a hollow, flexible wall, tubular housing having a pair of longitudinal mating edges separated by a longitudinal access slot, said edges being fastenable together in mating engagement after passing a cable through said slot;   a metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a second metal hanger bracket having a lower flexible portion fastened to the outside upper circumferential surface of said tubular housing and a vertical portion projecting upwardly, for fastening to a support strand;   a rectangular frame formed about a rectangular opening in one side of said tubular housing between said first and said second metal brackets;   a terminal block panel assembly attached within said rectangular frame and being comprised of a terminal block panel on which a terminal block is mounted;   a hinge mounted horizontally on a top side of said frame;   a rectangular lid pivotally mounted on said hinge, for providing access to said terminal block;   whereby said closure can be fastened about a cable and access can be had to terminate portions of a cable through said rectangular opening.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said frame is integrally formed with said tubular housing, for forming a water tight seal therewith. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said lid opens outwardly to rest in a vertical, upward orientation on the top of said frame; whereby wind force or vibration can close said lid if otherwise left unattended.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said lid is mounted to said rectangular frame by means of a stainless steel pin mounted in said hinge, about which said lid pivots. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said hinge is integrally formed with said rectangular frame, for forming a unitary structure therewith.